Scuba Diving the Sea Tiger Shipwreck in Honolulu
Page At‑a‑Glance
- The Sea Tiger is Honolulu's deepest recreational wreck dive (123 ft). Originally a smuggling vessel, it was intentionally sunk in 1999 and is now home to turtles, reef sharks, and tropical fish.
Ken is a master scuba instructor and licensed boat captain with over two decades of experience navigating Hawaiian waters. A contributing author, he specializes in scuba certification, advanced diving instruction, underwater asset inspection, and marine salvage.
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The Legend of the Sea Tiger
The Sea Tiger shipwreck did not go down with pirate treasure, in the storm of the century, or under attack by kamikazes. This intentionally sunk shipwreck peacefully slipped under the waves in 1999. However, the history of how the Sea Tiger became our favorite wreck is filled with intrigue.
In 1992, known then as the Yun Fong Seong No. 303, the vessel was caught smuggling 93 illegal Chinese immigrants. The Harbor Master attempted to hail the ship, but received no answer as the vessel barreled toward the pier.
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From Smugglers to Environmentalists
The five original crew members served various prison terms in what immigration officials called Hawaii's largest seizure of illegal immigrants. The Justice Department subsequently seized the Yun Fong Seong No. 303 and sold it at auction.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society purchased the ship for $40,000 in 1993, planning to use it to harass and ram fishing vessels that utilized drift nets. They intended to rename it the UN Resolution 42/216, after the United Nations resolution banning drift nets. However, the society's plan fell through, and the vessel was sold in 1994 to a Vietnamese fisherman who renamed it the Sea Tiger.
Sinking the Tiger
Under its new owner, the Sea Tiger repeatedly leaked oil and fuel into Honolulu Harbor. These violations led Hawaii Coast Guard inspectors to heavily fine the owner on several occasions. Eventually, the state seized the vessel after it was abandoned at Pier 40.
The state initially planned to tow the Sea Tiger 12 miles out to sea to sink it. However, Voyager Submarines stepped in, purchasing the vessel in 1997 for just $1. It took Voyager two years of paperwork and $250,000 in cleanup and preparation costs to gain approval from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Health Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Army Corps of Engineers. They spent $100,000 just to remove 100 gallons of residual fuel and oil.
Today, Voyager is no longer in business, and the Sea Tiger is exclusively frequented by scuba divers.
The Dive Experience
This 189-foot Hawaii shipwreck rests in 123 feet of water, making it the deepest recreational scuba diving shipwreck in Honolulu. The wreck offers thrilling penetration opportunities through its cargo holds, inner cabins, engine room, narrow passageways, and stairwells.
It is an amazing wreck to explore, home to resident sea turtles, abundant schools of tropical fish, and white tip reef sharks. Because of the depth, this is a dive you don't want to miss!
Ready to Dive?
Check out our Hawaii scuba diving school for more PADI scuba diving courses and instruction, such as the PADI Wreck Diver Course or the PADI Deep Diver Course, which are perfect for diving this shipwreck.